Two people I love, spent a good few months invested in my recommendation: Showtimeās The Affair. After our discussion, Iām compelled to share some big thoughts. š¤
Life is full of wonder, hope, love & beauty, but it can also be awful. All of our experiences are intertwined. Filing away the past, as āstorageā can destroy us, and as we know, hurt people hurt people.
Much of what we see as entertainment, can also teach us. Help us grow. šŗ Whether you have watched The Affair or not, the life lessons are plenty. We meet middle-aged, married Noah on a road trip with his wife and family. He falls for Alison, a waitress at a rest stop. Witnessing Noahās seemingly random actions is painful to watch. And as the story progresses, we are given the gift of backstories. Each of the characters is on a journey. We are led into understanding that we all have trauma, which subconsciously guides us, dictates our missteps, and ultimately takes us on our personal path.
How one person experiences an event varies greatly. One person can be āfineā while another is not. My sister states matter of factly, was Noahās ātraumaā really that bad? People go through much, much worse she says. š¤·š»āāļøHardships often become one of those normalized elephants in the room, parked away for sheer survival. š Oh, the times in my life I have said, āThis is not normal!ā In a pivotal conversation Noahās sister reminds his wife Helen that when she met Noah, he wanted nothing to do with his own family. āDidnāt you ever wonder why?ā š
My own family has suffered tragedy. š Not always knowing how to navigate loss, we stumble and sometimes fall. But we also experience great love and great joy. š« Perhaps our trauma is also our gift...that road to hope. šš½ So we look at the people we love, ourselves even, and understand that we are all victims, in some way or another, of life. And this is how we can navigate the world š ā for we all have some Noah in us. Saboteurs, emotionally punching in the dark, until we no longer can. š„ And then, we look inward. Recognize, heal, grow. Repeat. šŖ“ This is authenticity. And how we create and foster our own -- albeit small -- circle of real. āļø ā„ļø
Very good point to the comment below. I think that had I not watched The Affair with a more critical lens, I perhaps would have not gained much from it. Being able to reflect on my own life and the lives of those close to me, I can agree with this post so much. We ARE victims in one way or another to the hardships of life. What remains essential is what will we do to OVERCOME these hardships and take back ownership of our own lives? Something I think a lot of the characters struggled with, deeply. Great post!!
Ahh The Affair... I've been hearing about this show for some time now. As a 17 year old, it doesn't seem to be my cup of tea but this article seems to encompass the show, scratch that, LIFE, perfectly. Aside from my absolute favourite person, Joshua Jackson, being one of the leads, I love this show, even though I haven't seen it.
Many people watch tv shows through a narrow and literal lens, not relating it to their own lives. Watching, living, experience life at a surface level. I wonder if those who watched The Affair this way would have still enjoyed it. Nonetheless, this article captures the show in its essence. Bravo, well done, 10/10!